If any of out backs haven't been practicing these things then there is something seriously wrong. The afl style if catching has been common in afl training methods for many many years, as it has been in yawnion (courtesy of dave alred circa 2003). And in all honesty I would have thought we have been using the same methods for some years also, we're just not as good at it. For whatever their big lads have over us in leaping for the ball, we should maybe looking at ways to benefit from their size, maybe with grubber kicks to turn them around, with our backs running onto them.

If any of out backs haven't been practicing these things then there is something seriously wrong. The afl style if catching has been common in afl training methods for many many years, as it has been in yawnion (courtesy of dave alred circa 2003). And in all honesty I would have thought we have been using the same methods for some years also, we're just not as good at it. For whatever their big lads have over us in leaping for the ball, we should maybe looking at ways to benefit from their size, maybe with grubber kicks to turn them around, with our backs running onto them.

spot on, grubber kicks to turn them.

all this about needing tall lads..................remember Jason Robinson or Brian Carney..... little midgets, did we have the same concerns then??????

If any of out backs haven't been practicing these things then there is something seriously wrong. The afl style if catching has been common in afl training methods for many many years, as it has been in yawnion (courtesy of dave alred circa 2003). And in all honesty I would have thought we have been using the same methods for some years also, we're just not as good at it. For whatever their big lads have over us in leaping for the ball, we should maybe looking at ways to benefit from their size, maybe with grubber kicks to turn them around, with our backs running onto them.

Leeds did this in a grand final against bradford, vanaikolo spent all game stooping to pick up grubbers in goal and frquently got nailed by mark calderwood. We need to play our own game, taking the aussies on at their own game will get us nowhere in my opinion.

"surely they've got to try somthing different now, maybe the little chip over the top?2

Leeds did this in a grand final against bradford, vanaikolo spent all game stooping to pick up grubbers in goal and frquently got nailed by mark calderwood. We need to play our own game, taking the aussies on at their own game will get us nowhere in my opinion.

Opposite ends of the field though isn't it.

The game is played differently nowadays with different athletes with better all round games and ability.I wouldn't be too concerned about kicks to the corners, its only one aspect of the game.If teams do not have the defensive structures to handle what is thrown at them they will lose, thats the way it works out usually.

The game is played differently nowadays with different athletes with better all round games and ability.I wouldn't be too concerned about kicks to the corners, its only one aspect of the game.If teams do not have the defensive structures to handle what is thrown at them they will lose, thats the way it works out usually.

if you can create repeat sets for your team often then you'll spend less time defending bombs on your own line. I agree that if other things aren't right then kicking games will be the last of our problems.

"surely they've got to try somthing different now, maybe the little chip over the top?2

Seeing this list I am reminded of Travis Bickle, played by Robert de Niro in the film Taxi Driver, when he said to the pimp character Sport played by Harvey Keitel, after Bickel shoots Sport in the stomach:

vatuvei is the only real worry for me, and only from 10-15 yards out with one man to beat.. kenny-dowell is a handy player, but not someone who is going to cause any real problems, same for nightingale. and matai will break a shoulder in the first ten minutes as he always does. I'd suggest the Aussies and Kiwis (and PNG) should worry a little bit about the likes of eastmond, tomkins, burgess and briscoe.

burgess will be the only one they will know anything about. Eastmond, tomkins and briscoe are all much improved from when the opposition would have last seen them.

vatuvei is the only real worry for me, and only from 10-15 yards out with one man to beat.. kenny-dowell is a handy player, but not someone who is going to cause any real problems, same for nightingale. and matai will break a shoulder in the first ten minutes as he always does. I'd suggest the Aussies and Kiwis (and PNG) should worry a little bit about the likes of eastmond, tomkins, burgess and briscoe.

burgess will be the only one they will know anything about. Eastmond, tomkins and briscoe are all much improved from when the opposition would have last seen them.

Presumably then the entire Aussie Threequarterline is a set of duds then? Vatuvei would not play if I was selecting a Kiwi side, Perret, Nightingale, Locke and the winger at the Titan's also( forget his name) would all be in my side before him.

Admittedly he's strong but he is far to prone to mistakes and a lazy ###### too. I expect he will be there for NZ but he is not one that I would choose. SKD and Matai are good centre's and will cause the Aussies problems, never mind us and PNG.

vatuvei is the only real worry for me, and only from 10-15 yards out with one man to beat.. kenny-dowell is a handy player, but not someone who is going to cause any real problems, same for nightingale. and matai will break a shoulder in the first ten minutes as he always does. I'd suggest the Aussies and Kiwis (and PNG) should worry a little bit about the likes of eastmond, tomkins, burgess and briscoe.

burgess will be the only one they will know anything about. Eastmond, Tomkins and Briscoe are all much improved from when the opposition would have last seen them.

Agreed. Although I guessing the Aussies will realise how good S Tomkins, Eastmond & T Briscoe are, unlike how much posters on here will under-rated them as they don't play in the NRL. I don't think there are 2 wingers in SL better than Ryan Hall & Tom Briscoe. Shame Peter Fox's form has been so poor this season though.

"I've never seen a woman with hairy ears... And I've been to St Helens" - John Bishop